The Queen of the May is a tradition that celebrates beauty, renewal, and honour. Each year, we select a sampler that embodies these qualities - a design that rises above the rest, chosen not only for its visual appeal, but for its enduring presence.
Ann's sampler is a study in balance and... Read more
A vintage sampler reproduction by NeedleWork Press from Isabella Hardy featuring beautiful red designs.
Stitched on Weeks Dyes Works "Linen" using Classic Colorworks floss. The stitch count is 108 x 99 and the finished size on 32 count fabric is 6.8" x 6.2".
Stitched in 1826 by a boy of just nine years of age, this eye-catching sampler challenges expectation. It speaks not only of skill, but of discipline, patience, and quiet determination. William worked with precision and care, producing a piece that stands confidently alongside, and in many cases... Read more
Cross stitch pattern from Scarlett House featuring a sampler with the phrase "Bless us all with needle in hand. Whether we use a hoop or a stand. May our stitches be even and tight. Whether we start on the left or the right"!
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Cactus Wren from Fox and... Read more
National Female Model School Sampler - Kildare Place, Dublin circa 1820
This pattern has 1 specialty stitch - the Satin Stitch. And the small alphabet at the top and the small letters at the bottom are stitched over 1 thread of linen.
Pattern is stitched on 46 ct. linen with 100/3 Au Ver a Soie silk floss. The stitch count is 96 x 147 and the finished size is 4.17" x 6.39".
In her roses garden... the peacock unfurls its silken silence. Each feather seems like a captive ray of daylight, each thread a caress of time. Motionless beauty, it reigns-proud and gentle-over the stitcher's garden.
Stitched on 40 count linen. The stitch count is 184 x 180 and the finished size is 9.2" x 9".
Model stitched over 2 threads on 46 Ct. Vintage Autumn Gold by Lakeside Linens with NPI Silk. Stitch Count:187 x 183 and the finished size is 8.13" x 7.96".
In 1894, in the small town of Pouance, there lived a young girl named Lea
Letourneur. Unlike many embroiderers of her time, who endlessly repeated their neat red alphabets, Lea dreamed of light, of flowers, and of birds. Stitch by stitch, her needle traced an alphabet bursting with life, bordered... Read more
Elizabeth finished her stunning sampler on Wednesday, February 1, in the year 1854. The sampler would have been worked as part of her education. It would have taken many hours to complete and is an amazing achievement. A bobby dazzler of a sampler! Elizabeth created a cohesive, engaging, and... Read more
Step back into the mid-19 century with this sampler, originally stitched on stitched in 1847 with wool on canvas.
Pattern is stitched on the fabric of your choice using Au Ver A Soie threads. Stitch count is 179 x 174. Finished size on 16/32 Ct. is 11.19" x 10.88".
Note from the designer: "This densely worked sampler displays exquisite detail and contains many of the most popular needlework motifs of the seventeenth century. The flowers are realistically shaded to achieve a natural look."
Finished size on 35 count linen is 7 1/4" x 25... Read more
We are so excited to recreate a well-used and tattered watch pocket that no doubt held a lady's watch from bygone days. A ribbon tab on the back of the antique likely was intended to be used to hang the stitched pocket from a display book. We did examine the inside of the antique, revealing some... Read more
Julia Rachel De La Mare, 1849, A Fuersney, Channel Island Sampler.
The Antique: This lovely vibrant sampler is in the style common to the time called Berlin Woolwork, named such after the printed patterns originating from Berlin where individual motifs such as florals, birds, the center... Read more
Although we have been unable to identify our sampler maker, she definitely knew her geography. Harriet accurately listed the states and territories of the date she stitched in her sampler. Even though the antique sampler is in a tattered state, we are especially happy to preserve Harriet's legacy by... Read more
To add to my growing flock of birds, this piece was adapted from a French antique in my collection. The original has been adapted to simplify the colour palette and make the birds more vibrant. The original stitcher's name has been charted for those who want to include it.
The model was stitched over 2 threads on 40 Ct. Parchment linen from Weeks Dye Works with The Gentle Art Sampler threads, Weeks Dye Works floss, and Classic Colorworks floss. Stitch Count: 300W x 427H. Finished size: 15" x 21 1/2".
Cross stitch pattern from Needlemade Designs featuring a vintage sampler with the phrase "Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the holy duty of man"!
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Dirty Teacup from Needle and Flax using Soie d'Alger threads with DMC conversion. Stitch count is 239 x 299. Finished size is 11.95" x 14.95".
The Walker Sisters was the book released at the Blackbird Designs Farewell Retreat held at Dyeing to Stitch in September 2024.
Hannah Walker - Aged 6 - 1814: Stitched on 36 ct fabric using Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts threads. Stitch count is 123w x 145h. Finished size is 6 7/8" x... Read more
Cross stitch pattern from Fox and Rabbit featuring a beautiful reproduction sampler!
The model was stitched on 40 Count Up In The Attic Linen by Fox and Rabbit using Weeks Dyes Works and DMC floss with DMC conversions. Stitch count is 208 x 166. Finished size is 10.4" x 8.3".
Cross stitch pattern from Quaint Rose Needle Arts featuring an antique reproduction design of a beautiful bird with a pear fruit from 1910.
Models stitched on 36 count Cactus Wren by Fox and Rabbit using DMC floss. The Bird has a stitch count of 90 x 120 with a finished size of 5" x 6.67". The Pear has a stitch count of 98 x 114 with a finished size of 5.44" x 6.33".
Note from the designer: Alice Maud Tippett at the young age of 11 years stitched an adorable little sampler using a scrap of Penelope canvas and a beautiful palette of nine colours. The colours harmonise so well!
Alice records on her sampler that she attended St Ervan's Board School. When the... Read more
Here we find an alphabet intertwined with irises, religious symbols with singular shapes, and a border of stylized roses that seems to whisper the elegance of days gone by.
Stitched on 40 count linen. The stitch count is 400 x 411 and the finished size is 20" x 20.55".
This is a reproduction of a Dutch Sampler. It depicts a red stag, a number of flower pots and four rather inconspicuous birds.
The model was stitched over 2 threads on 35 Ct. Gray Linen from Weeks Dye Works with Gentle Art Sampler threads and DMC floss. The stitch count is 264W x 260H and the finished size is 15" x 14 3/4".
Cross stitch pattern from The Proper Stitcher featuring a reproduction sampler with a bird!
The pattern is stitched on 40 count linen using Belle Soie Classic Colorworks Silks and one NPI silk. Stitch Count: 145 x 118. Finished Size: 7 1/4 x 5 7/8 inches.
This booklet from Blackbird Designs features 4 projects.
Moments of Glad Grace, Button Box, and Sing the Joyful Birds are stitched on 36 count Legacy by Picture This Plus using Classic Color Works, Gentle Arts, and Weeks Dye Works threads
Moments of Glad Grace stitch count 183w x... Read more
Note from the designer - "Typical of so many Scottish samplers, Elizabeth Masterton's features an abundance of initials (likely familial), rows of evergreen trees, peacocks with seven tail feathers, and the now famous mansion house fronted by a pillared fence and gates enclosing sheep. Apart... Read more
"When time who steals our years away
Shall steal our pleasures too
The memory of the past will stay
And half our joys renew
Then think no more of future gloom
These joys will always last
For hope will brighten days to come
And memory guild the... Read more
This is a reproduction of an unfinished German sampler which bears typical characteristics of Saxon samplers. Uses cross stitch, back stitch, a few Algerian eyes, and Satin stitch.
Model stitched over 2 threads on 40 Ct. "linen" colored linen from Weeks Dye Works with Gentle Art Sampler threads. Stitch Count: 237W x 670H. Finished size: 11.85" x 33.5".
Model stitched on 40 ct Olde Towne Blend using Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Arts & Classic Colorworks. A personalization chart has been included for you to stitch your name or a loved ones name in the place of "Mary Jane Carver". Stitch count 247 x 215. Finished size is 12.35 in wide X 10.75 in high.
Part Seven of the Abecedarian Series. Model stitched on 30 ct. American Chestnut linen by R&R Reproductions with Gentle Art Sampler threads. Stitch Count: 90W x 144H. Finished Size: 6" x 10"
Reproduction of a French Sampler. In 1861, Mademoiselle Leroux let a delicate vase of flowers bloom beneath her needle, a gift for her uncle and aunt. A timeless bouquet, suspended in the grace of passing day.
Stitched on 16 count Zweigart linen. The stitch count is 271 x 206 and the finished size is 16.94" x 12.88".
I am pleased to introduce a new pattern! A French redwork marking sampler stitched by Rosalie Amphoux Vauvert. I love it for its small size and simple alphabets and numbers, some worked rather plainly and others quite prettily.
Pattern was stitched on 36 Alabaster from Weeks Dye Works using The Gentle Arts floss. Stitch count is 127w x 130h. Finished size is 7"w x 7.25"h.
This sampler is an adaptation from a sampler in my collection. This chart contains the pattern for the scissor fob shown along with all finishing instructions.
Model stitched over two threads on 36 ct Straw from Weeks Dye Works using Weeks Dye Works threads. Stitch count is 204w x 76h. Finished size is 11.33" x 4.22". Finished Size of Pinkeep: 5"w x 3.50"h.
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Vintage Pecan Butter from Lakeside Linens using Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks threads. Stitch count is 79 x 116. Finished size is 4" x 6".
"Immortal made what should we mind So much as Immortality we beings for a heaven designed what but a heaven our care should be". Yes, this sampler is large... but such a joy to stitch. this is a stunning English sampler from 1803 done in muted colors.
This is an outstanding sampler with the verse "Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand As the first effort of an infants hand And while her fingers oer the canvas move Engage her tender heart to seek thy love With the dear children may she have a part And write thy name thyself upon her... Read more